Call to Worship
One: God calls us like Eve to help in the creation of a new world.
All: Let us be a loving companion to our brothers and sisters, and a faithful steward of all creation.
One: God calls us like Deborah to judge right from wrong.
All: Let us stand up for justice and protect those in need.
One: God calls us like Mary to be faithful bearers of your word.
All: Let us shine with the light of the Gospel wherever we go.
One: God calls us like Thecla and Phoebe to begin a new kind of church.
All: Let us worship the Lord in a new way on this new day! Amen.
Prayer of Renewal
God, you are our father and our mother. You have not fed us a diet of shame or shrinking, but with the milk of your truth. You have made us strong and faithful servants of Christ. You fill us with strength and hope, and you invite us to share in the cost and joys of discipleship. We thank you for your nourishing Grace. And as you have promised us joy and peace in this life and in the world to come, we promise to follow your ways and honor you in everything we do.
Scripture: Romans 16:1-16
16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, 2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 4 and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.